'Storytellers own the world': Dean of admission shares 2 tips on how to write the perfect college essay

The vice president and dean of admission at Reed College —
a liberal arts school in Oregon —
recently went on Reddit to answer questions about the college
admissions process.

In his AMA,
or Ask Me Anything,Milyon Trulove provided two important tips for students to
remember when writing their college admissions
essays:

A. Tell me a good story.

I've long said storytellers own the world. Take a second to
think about someone that always has a wild tale for you. Think
about someone who always make you laugh. It's likely that when
that person shares, you feel a personal connection. That's the
way we humans work, that's the way we connect.

If you can imagine someone in front of a room who is
captivating, interesting and compelling - chances are that it's
an individual that has a special skill of conveying their
experiences in a chronological, engaging and compelling
fashion.

Storytellers know why they're telling a story. They know how
to build the other involved characters in the minds of the
audience. They know the punchline, or the takeaway message; they
know when to stop telling the story, when to pause for you to
catch up... they take you somewhere or someplace and, when it's
time to deliver the big bang, they deliver a communal experience
that leaves you feeling an affinity for them as a
storyteller.

Imagine doing that for an admission committee.

B. Essays with a "so what?".

But, for your college essay, don't just tell your admission
committee a clever story you've shared with any given "grown-up"
that has appreciated your maturity.

You HAVE to (have to) tell us why we should care. After you
write your original, well constructed essay - ask yourself "Why
should they care?". If your answer isn't captured in your essay,
you've more work to do.